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New Deansgate-Castlefield Station: New Lines Sooner

Odd graphics and good news from Metrolink

Published on June 30th 2014.

TRAMS could be running to Exchange Square as early as next winter thanks to a major European grant.

There will also be a new inbound island platform and a new outbound platform at the Deansgate-Castlefield stop. Two new track cross-overs are being installed, allowing trams to turn back in both directions.

Significant improvements to the way passengers can access the Deansgate-Castlefield stop will also be made, thanks to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has had a £10.8 million ERDF bid approved, which will allow the first stage of Metrolink’s Second City Crossing (2CC) programme to be completed before the rest of the line opens in 2017.

The greenway of the new Deansgate-Castlefield station

That will see the spur between Manchester Victoria and Exchange Square built by next summer which, subject to testing and commissioning, will give Metrolink the ability to run more trams between Shaw and Crompton and the city from winter 2015/16.

The ERDF funding will also transform the existing footbridge linking the Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop with Deansgate Railway Station.

In addition, a new lift and steps will be installed at the Deansgate end of the stop and a new pedestrian bridge and steps will be built at the Albion Street end.

There will also be a new inbound island platform and a new outbound platform at the Deansgate-Castlefield stop. Two new track cross-overs are being installed, allowing trams to turn back in both directions.

The Deansgate-Castlefield work will be complete by summer 2015, after which work to transform the St Peter’s Square stop will get under way.

It's all a bit 'Second Life' in these graphics of Deansgate-Castlefield stop

“It means the early arrival of trams to Exchange Square, it means more trams for people travelling between Oldham and Manchester and it means the transformation of the Deansgate-Castefield stop.

“Most importantly of all, it means that we can start to realise some of the many benefits of Metrolink’s transformational Second City Crossing a lot sooner.”

Councillor Kate Chappell, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, said: “Coming just days after the news that the new Metrolink line to Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport will open 12 months ahead of schedule, this is another exciting announcement demonstrating yet again that our public transport infrastructure is being transformed at a truly remarkable rate.

“It will enable additional services to run from north Manchester and Oldham, connecting more people with city centre jobs, as well as providing major improvements at one of the most well used stops on the network.”

Deansgate Locks perspective of reconfigured Deansgate-Castlefield

Green walls to the greenway

Tatty bridge to be restored and cleaned

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Plus from a tourist/visitor perspective having the "Castlefield-Deansgate" title makes these destinations easier to locate. They should also lay more grass beneath the Metrolink lines across the city like in Bilbao- bit.ly/Tw9Vh7…

AnonymousJune 30th 2014.

I disagree. The tram platform is alongside Whitworth Street not Deansgate.

rinkydinkJune 30th 2014.

I disagree with Anon again. Deansgate/Castle field is much more discriptive than Whitworth Street

AnonymousJuly 1st 2014.

@Rinkydink I never said call it Whitworth Street, I said it's alongside Whitworth Street in response to the Anon above. If tourists arrive in Piccadilly train station and want to go to Deansgate, I ask them where on Deansgate. If it's the big hotel or the Premier Inn near the Mancunian Way I'll recommend they get a tram from under Piccadilly. If they want Kendal's or Spinningfields I recommend the free orange bus outside. If it's the Midland Hotel/Peter Street I'll recommend the purple bus outside instead of te tram to St. Peter's Square.

Barry TravisJune 30th 2014.

This is all well and good but I still see it as a waste when a link to the Trafford Centre would be SO much more beneficial to the whole area. However on a positive note its good they are still putting a focus on what is probably the best public transport system we have......I thought they'd sulk sonewhat after the congestion charge was rebuffed

Wasn't the Trafford Centre built on land out of town and next to a motoway to make shopping more convenient for motorists? Now a tram system might be built from the city to take people there? Bizarre!

AnonymousJune 30th 2014.

Actually the tram was supposed to go to the Lowery but eventually it went to Media City. But further it was supposed to go to the Trafford Centre but the developers of the Centre never made a contribution. They preferred cars and a layout in the area which was very car friendly and built to bring people to the Shopping Centre alone.

AnonymousJuly 1st 2014.

Will they be putting some shelter on these new platforms? If you've ever waited for a tram on a windy winters day you'll know there's a good chance of losing fingers to frostbite.

Re. naming of the new station do we really need to be so "petty" about it - bottom line Manchester is flippin' ace, we've got the largest LRT network in the UK and it's set to get even better - what is there to argue about...ooh, the colour of the new trams clashes with the whites of my eyes after a night on the pop...ooh!!

You were doing so well Alistair and then went off in a silly direction. You might want to send that post to the group of people that want Piccadilly train station re-named Peterloo Station. The fact the the name Peterloo is a nickname doesn't matter to them. You might also want to send your post to the group of people that want St. Peter's Square renamed Peter's Fields.

Adam PriestleyJuly 4th 2014.

Are Trafford Street and Great Bridgewater Street between the back of Manchester Central and the new tram stop being fully covered and a new square being created? It looks that way in the graphic..